Hosts of `Irish Aires' radio show to lead St. Patrick's Day Parade

A 45-year tradition

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, March 11, 2004

Two local Irish notables will lead the 45th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade at 11 a.m. this Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

Under the theme "Celebrating Irish Music," KPFT-FM radio personalities Jay Dooling and Pete Little will act as grand marshals for the historic, two-hour parade. The pair hosts a weekly radio program called Irish Aires, which features Irish music and news.

The parade commission has dedicated this year's parade to the founder of Irish Aires,Pat Patton, who started the radio show 20 years ago. Patton, a pro-active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a Catholic lay organization, died last year.

"Pat knew everything about the history and culture of Ireland," said Little, a Heights resident. "His love of Irish culture and people was pretty much his life."

Music entries are prominent in this year's parade, which moved back downtown four years ago after a stretch on Richmond. Bands on floats and marching bands will provide cadence for more than 125 entries. Scheduled to march and perform are bands from Wheatley and Austin high schools and St. Frances Catholic School.

Several Irish government ministry officials are honorable guests at this year's parade, traditionally led by the Houston Highlanders. Mayor Bill White, U.S. Rep. Chris Bell, D-Houston, and several City Council members are expected as well.

Longtime parade organizer Jeannie Kearns said a singing-leprechaun float will be a popular addition this year. Other attractions include a 42-foot boat float, antique fire trucks, numerous Irish dancers and the Knights of Columbus Honor Guards.

The parade commission has rekindled a tradition called the Irish 100, a fund-raising mechanism used during the recession in the 1980s to keep the parade solvent. Members of the Irish 100 each donate at least $100 for funding.

Dooling, a downtown resident, has fond memories of watching the parade in the early '80s from his downtown office window, as the parade was hosted during the week.

According to the Irish Aires Web site, the first St. Patrick's Day parades in Houston date back to the 1880s. They originated in "Irish Town" by St. Patrick's Church on Harrisburg in the East End.

The procession then marched to Market Square to visit the area's various pubs. A favorite gathering place was a bar owned by Civil War hero Dick Dowling named the Bank of Bacchus, which was at the square's edge.

After the parade waned, it was rekindled by Houston oilman Glen McCarthy in the late 1940s. His Shamrock Hotel was the center of Irish culture during the 1950s. Radio personalities Tim Nolan and Bob Bryant organized the parade that has been carried through the decades. In the 1970s, Dr. Edward Kearns became the parade commissioner and rescued the parade from desolation by forming the Irish 100 Club with businessman Michael "Griff" Griffin.

This year, the parade begins at the clock tower at Minute Maid Park on Texas at Hamilton, proceeds up Texas to LaBranch, travels south to Polk, west to Austin, north to Preston and then east back to the ball field.

An awards ceremony commences at 1 p.m. at the Avenue of the Americas and Texas.

Dooling and Little said they do their homework on Irish cultural events like Celtic music performances and plays, and post book reviews on the show's Internet site at www.irishaires.org. Predictably, March is their busiest time of year.

"About 75 percent of Irish events occur within a few weeks around St. Patrick's Day," Dooling said.